U.S. patent number 5,498,073 [Application Number 08/318,440] was granted by the patent office on 1996-03-12 for corner junction for cabinet, and electrical cabinet comprising such junctions.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Schneider Electric SA. Invention is credited to Edmond Bossan, Michel Charbonneau, Kazimir Laboch, Jean-Pierre Pin.
United States Patent |
5,498,073 |
Charbonneau , et
al. |
March 12, 1996 |
Corner junction for cabinet, and electrical cabinet comprising such
junctions
Abstract
A corner junction for a cabinet, including a gusset plate having
two profile sections secured thereto and including two adjacent
joining surfaces which extend perpendicularly to a plane of the
profile sections. A foot having complementary joining surfaces is
secured to the gusset plate, such that the complementary joining
surfaces are received by and abut against the joining surfaces of
the gusset plate. At least one protruding portion extends from the
foot and at least one complementary notch is formed in the gusset
plate or the profile sections, the complementary notch receiving
the protruding portion to lock the foot from translating in a
direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the foot.
Additionally, a securing device is provided to secure the foot to
the gusset plate, by clamping the foot between the joining
surfaces. The foot is adapted to engage the gusset plate by
translation along a direction parallel to the plane of the profile
sections. A parallelepipedic cabinet is provided which incorporates
the corner junction, and which has a vertical support pillars which
are individually removable without disassembling a roof frame or a
base frame formed by the profile sections.
Inventors: |
Charbonneau; Michel (Bresson,
FR), Bossan; Edmond (St. Marcellin, FR),
Laboch; Kazimir (Meylan, FR), Pin; Jean-Pierre
(St. Etienne De St. Geoirs, FR) |
Assignee: |
Schneider Electric SA
(FR)
|
Family
ID: |
9452020 |
Appl.
No.: |
08/318,440 |
Filed: |
October 5, 1994 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
|
Oct 18, 1993 [FR] |
|
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93 12480 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
312/257.1;
312/263; 312/265.5; 312/265.3; 312/265.4 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H02B
1/01 (20130101); H02B 1/301 (20130101); H02B
1/014 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H02B
1/30 (20060101); H02B 1/00 (20060101); H02B
1/01 (20060101); A47B 043/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;312/257.1,263,265.2,265.3,265.4,265.5,111 ;108/50,192,193,91 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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|
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490813 |
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Feb 1978 |
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AU |
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1317272 |
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Jan 1963 |
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FR |
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2566222 |
|
Dec 1985 |
|
FR |
|
1112547 |
|
May 1968 |
|
GB |
|
2231117 |
|
Nov 1990 |
|
GB |
|
Primary Examiner: Chen; Jose V.
Assistant Examiner: White; Rodney B.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Parkhurst, Wendel & Rossi
Claims
We claim:
1. A corner junction for a cabinet, comprising:
a gusset plate having two profile sections secured thereto, the
profile sections extending along a plane and forming a first angle
therebetween, said gusset plate including two adjacent joining
surfaces extending perpendicularly to the plane of the profile
sections and symmetrically with respect to a plane bisecting the
first angle;
a foot having a longitudinal axis perpendicular to the plane of the
profile sections, said foot having two adjacent complementary
joining surfaces which extend parallel to the longitudinal axis and
which are respectively received by and abut against the joining
surfaces of the gusset plate, wherein the complementary joining
surfaces form a second angle, and the joining surfaces of the
gusset plate form a third angle which is not greater than about
360.degree.--the second angle;
at least one protruding portion extending from the foot and having
opposed locking surfaces which extend substantially perpendicularly
to the longitudinal axis;
at least one complementary notch formed in at least one of the
gusset plate and the profile sections for receiving said at least
one protruding portion, said at least one complementary notch
having complementary opposed locking surfaces which abut against
the opposed locking surfaces of said at least one protruding
portion; and
securing means for securing the foot to the gusset plate by
clamping the foot between the joining surfaces, wherein
said foot is adapted to engage the gusset plate by translation
along a direction parallel to the plane of the profile
sections.
2. The corner junction of claim 1, wherein the third angle is less
than about 360.degree.--the second angle.
3. The corner junction of claim 1, wherein the third angle is equal
to about 360.degree.`--the second angle.
4. The corner junction of claim 1, wherein the joining surfaces lie
in respective planes which intersect each other along an imaginary
line, and said gusset plate further includes a backing plate which
extends along a plane perpendicular to the plane of the profile
sections and past the imaginary line, said backing plate
cooperating with said securing means to secure the foot to the
gusset plate.
5. The corner junction of claim 1, wherein the corner junction
includes two protruding portions respectively extending from the
two complementary joining surfaces of the foot, the protruding
portions being bounded by lateral side surfaces which are parallel
to each other.
6. The corner junction of claim 1, wherein said gusset plate
includes a corner piece which forms the joining surfaces, said
corner piece having an external contour which follows a
cross-sectional shape of the profile sections.
7. The corner junction of claim 1, wherein said at least one
complementary notch comprises at least one opening in said joining
surfaces of the gusset plate, and said at least one protruding
portion extends from the complementary joining surfaces of the
foot.
8. The corner junction of claim 1, wherein the profile sections
have a hollow interior bounded by internal walls which form said
complementary notch, said joining and complementary joining
surfaces being received in the hollow interior, between said
internal walls.
9. The corner junction of claim 1, wherein said securing means
comprises a bolt having a longitudinal axis extending along a plane
bisecting the third angle, said foot being adapted to receive an
upright extending perpendicularly to the plane of the profile
sections.
10. The corner junction of claim 1, wherein the profile sections
have a hollow interior bounded by internal walls, and the joining
surfaces are respectively welded inside the hollow interior, to
said internal walls.
11. A parallelepipedic cabinet for receiving electrical switchgear,
comprising:
a rectangular base frame and a rectangular roof frame each
comprising four sides formed by four profile sections,
respectively, adjacent profile sections being joined together via
corner junctions, each corner junction comprising (i) a gusset
plate including two adjacent joining surfaces extending
perpendicularly to a plane of its respective frame, and
symmetrically to a plane bisecting its respective corner of the
frame, (ii) a foot having a longitudinal axis perpendicular to the
plane of its respective frame, said foot having two adjacent
complementary joining surfaces which extend parallel to the
longitudinal axis and which are respectively received by and abut
against the joining surfaces of the gusset plate, wherein the
complementary joining surfaces form a second angle, and the joining
surfaces of the gusset plate form a third angle which is not
greater than about 360.degree.--the second angle, (iii) at least
one protruding portion extending from the foot and having opposed
locking surfaces which extend substantially perpendicularly to the
longitudinal axis, (iv) at least one complementary notch formed in
at least one of the gusset plates and the profile sections, for
receiving the at least one protruding portion, the at least one
complementary notch having complementary opposed locking surfaces
which abut against the opposed locking surfaces of the at least one
protruding portion, and (v) securing means for securing the foot to
the gusset plate by clamping the foot between the joining surfaces,
wherein said foot is adapted to engage the gusset plate by
translation along a direction parallel to the plane of the
respective frame;
a plurality of vertical pillars joining the base frame and the roof
frame to each other; and
a plurality of covering panels each covering a side of the
parallelepipedic cabinet.
12. The cabinet of claim 11, wherein the pillars are individually
removable without disassembling the base frame or the roof
frame.
13. The cabinet of claim 11, wherein each foot includes a fixing
device for securing the covering panels thereto.
14. The cabinet of claim 13, wherein one of said covering panels
provides a door, the cabinet further comprising at least one hinge
connecting the door to at least one of the fixing devices.
15. The cabinet of claim 11, wherein the pillars include at least
two corner uprights respectively joining feet of opposing pairs of
the corner junctions of the base frame and the roof frame.
16. The cabinet of claim 15, wherein each of the two corner
uprights has first, second and third sides joined together such
that each upright has an isosceles-right triangular cross-section,
the first and second sides forming a right angle, each upright
positioned such that the first and second sides face an interior of
the cabinet, and the edges between the first and third sides and
between the second and third sides form sealing edges, the first
and second sides having regularly spaced perforations formed
therein.
17. The cabinet of claim 15, wherein each of the two corner
uprights has an open cross-section, having two opposite edges which
form sealing edges.
18. The cabinet of claim 11, wherein the pillars include at least
one post extending between an intermediate position of a profile
section of the roof frame and an intermediate position of a profile
section of the base frame.
19. The cabinet of claim 11, wherein the profile sections of at
least one of the base frame and the roof frame are integrated with
a covering panel.
20. The cabinet of claim 11, wherein each of the profile sections
is hollow and includes an interior side facing an inside of the
cabinet, said interior side has a plurality of regularly spaced
perforations formed therein, and each profile section has an
outward wing portion forming a first gutter.
21. The cabinet of claim 20, wherein each foot includes second
gutters extending from the first gutters of the profile sections,
and a spout extending from the second gutters.
22. The cabinet of claim 11, further comprising a hoisting ring
secured to each of the gusset plates of the roof frame.
23. A parallelepipedic cabinet for receiving electrical switchgear,
comprising:
a rectangular base frame and a rectangular roof frame each
comprising four sides formed by four profile sections,
respectively, adjacent profile sections being joined together via a
corner junction;
a plurality of vertical pillars joining the base frame and the roof
frame to each other, wherein the pillars include at least one post
extending between an intermediate position of a profile section of
the roof frame and an intermediate position of a profile section of
the base frame;
a plurality of covering panels each covering a side of the
parallelepipedic cabinet, wherein each of the pillars is
individually removable from the parallelepipedic cabinet without
disassembling the base frame or the roof frame.
24. The cabinet of claim 23, wherein each corner junction includes
a fixing device for securing the covering panels thereto.
25. The cabinet of claim 24, wherein one of said covering panels
provides a door, the cabinet further comprising at least one hinge
connecting the door to at least one of the fixing devices.
26. The cabinet of claim 23, wherein the pillars include at least
two corner uprights respectively joining opposing pairs of corner
junctions of the base frame and the roof frame.
27. The cabinet of claim 26, wherein each of the two corner
uprights has first, second and third sides joined together such
that each upright has an isosceles-right triangular cross-section,
the first and second sides forming a right angle, each upright
positioned such that first and second sides face an interior of the
cabinet, and the edges between the first and second sides and
between the second and third sides form sealing edges, the first
and second sides having regularly spaced perforations formed
therein.
28. The cabinet of claim 26, wherein each of the two corner
uprights has an open-cross section, having two opposite edges which
form sealing edges.
29. The cabinet of claim 23, wherein the profile sections of at
least one of the base frame and the roof frame are integrated with
a covering panel.
30. The cabinet of claim 23, wherein each of the profile sections
is hollow and includes an interior side facing an inside of the
cabinet, said interior side has a plurality of regularly spaced
perforations formed therein, and each profile section has an
outward wing portion forming a first gutter.
31. The cabinet of claim 30, wherein each corner junction includes
second gutters extending from the first gutters of the profile
sections, and a spout extending from the second gutters.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates in a general manner to the field of cabinets
and enclosures, notably that of cabinets and enclosures used for
housing electrical and/or electronic switchgear.
Its object is more particularly to achieve a corner junction for a
cabinet or enclosure of this kind, enabling trihedral assembly of
profiles and/or uprights, and a cabinet of appreciably
parallelepipedic shape comprising a corner junction of this kind at
each of its eight apexes.
Hereinafter, the term "cabinet" will designate both a cabinet or an
enclosure.
In state-of-the-art manner, for example according to the documents
FR-A-2,681,403, EP-A-402,276 and EP-A-144,995, a cabinet of this
kind is made up of a parallelepipedic framework achieved with
twelve identical hollow profile sections, assembled by means of
corner junctions, and a covering dressing made up of panels. The
corner junction is formed by a tripod, which may have a monobloc
structure, whose three feet fit respectively inside the three
corresponding profile sections.
A junction of this kind, which is at first sight very attractive,
does however present several drawbacks in terms of cost, mechanical
strength, flexibility of use, and convenience when fitting the
electrical switchgear inside such a cabinet. First of all, the
tripod is fragile since it is subjected to large mechanical
stresses; it is also relatively complex due to its shape and
consequently costly to manufacture. Moreover, the rigidity of this
type of junction is not always satisfactory, as it depends greatly
on the internal dimensions of the profile. Consequently, to obtain
a good rigidity, the manufacturing tolerances of the profile have
to be reduced, thereby inducing extra expense as far as profile
turning is concerned. Moreover, as the feet of the tripod fit into
the profile sections, it is impossible to disassemble one or the
other of the vertical uprights of the framework once the four
vertical covering panels of the cabinet have been removed, without
having at least partially removed the roof of the cabinet
beforehand, at least without deformation of the framework which is
liable in turn to deform the profiles at the level of the corner
junctions and thus reduce the strength of the framework. Finally,
assembly by tripod is also very costly in terms of man-hours, as it
requires tightening/untightening of a large number of screws. This
results in the person in charge of fitting the electrical
switchgear inside the cabinet either wasting time in partially
disassembling the roof to remove an upright of the framework in
order to achieve a more convenient access to the inside of the
cabinet, or accepting the inconvenience resulting from the presence
of the four vertical uprights of the framework, which also
represents a waste of time.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is therefore to overcome these
shortcomings.
According to a first feature of the invention, corner junction is
provided for a cabinet, notably an electrical switchgear cabinet,
designed to securedly join by means of securing means, on the one
hand a plane frame formed by at least two profile sections which,
joined together by means of a gusset plate, form a first salient
angle, and on the other hand a foot presenting a longitudinal axis
appreciably perpendicular to said plane frame and provided with two
first surfaces parallel to the longitudinal axis and forming
between them a second angle. According to the invention, the gusset
plate comprises two second surfaces also parallel to the
longitudinal axis, disposed symmetrically on each side of the plane
bisecting the first angle, and forming between them a third angle
appreciably complementary to 360.degree. to the second angle, in
such a way that the securing means ensures a clamping pressure
between the first and second surfaces. The gusset plate and/or
profile sections comprise fourth surfaces appreciably parallel to
the plane frame, and the foot comprises fifth surfaces
perpendicular to its longitudinal axis and designed to cooperate
with the fourth surfaces, the foot being arranged to engage and fit
in place by simple translation in a direction parallel to the plane
frame.
Preferably, the third angle is equal to or slightly smaller than
the angle complementary to 360.degree. to the second angle, so as
to ensure a jamming effect of the first surfaces between the second
surfaces, and the second surfaces being for example able to cross
along an imaginary line.
Preferably, the foot comprises in addition two sixth surfaces
parallel to the plane bisecting the second angle.
In practice, the gusset plate can present a third surface parallel
to said longitudinal axis, perpendicular to the plane bisecting the
third angle, set back from the imaginary line and designed to
cooperate with a screw or bolt whose axis is located in the plane
bisecting the third angle, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.
Alternatively, the gusset plate comprises a corner piece presenting
two wings which form between them the third angle and whose outline
corresponds to the cross-section of the profile sections.
The foot can in addition receive an upright perpendicular to said
plane frame.
According to a first particular embodiment of the corner junction,
the two profile sections are hollow, so that the second surfaces
can fit, at least partially, respectively into the two hollow
profile sections and be welded to these profile sections.
Preferably, the latter then each present a fourth surface internal
to the profile and parallel to the plane frame, which bears on
fifth surfaces which belong to the foot and which are perpendicular
to the longitudinal axis, in such a way that the foot fits
simultaneously by simple translation, in a direction parallel to
the plane frame, into the hollow of each of the two profile
sections.
According to a second particular embodiment of the corner junction,
the fourth surfaces are achieved by openings made in the wings of
the gusset plate, and the fifth surfaces are supported by spigots
protruding out on the first surfaces.
According to a second feature of the invention, this involves a
cabinet for electrical switchgear having the shape of a
parallelepiped and comprising:
a base and a roof disposed horizontally and each comprising a
rectangular plane frame formed by four profile sections joined
together two by two by means of a gusset plate;
a plurality of vertical pillars joining the plane frame of the roof
to the plane frame of the base;
eight corner junctions, as defined above respectively located at
the eight apexes of the parallelepiped; and
covering panels to dress the faces of the parallelepiped.
Preferably, each foot comprises in addition a fixing device for
example by dovetail designed to receive an accessory such as a
hinge-pin for a door hinge.
The pillars include either only hollow or closed uprights,
respectively joining the feet of the corner junctions two by two,
or only posts respectively joining intermediate points of the
profile sections associated to the roof to corresponding
intermediate points of the profile sections associated to the base,
or any combination of such uprights and such posts.
Preferably, the profile sections forming the frame of the roof
and/or base are identical. They can notably be integrated in the
covering panels of the base and roof. In practice, they are hollow
and present a rectangular or trapezoid cross-section whose faces
facing the inside of the parallelepipedic volume are provided with
regularly spaced perforations. In addition, they present a salient
wing directed towards the outside of the cabinet and forming a
first gutter which joins a second gutter associated to the
foot.
Each foot can in addition comprise a spout to enable the water
collected by the gutter to be removed.
According to a first embodiment of the uprights, the uprights are
made from a first closed profile which has a cross-section having
the shape of an isosceles-rectangular triangle whose right angle is
directed towards the inside of the cabinet, whose two angles at the
base respectively form two sealing edges directed towards the
outside of the cabinet and whose two perpendicular sides are also
provided with regularly spaced perforations.
According to a second embodiment of the uprights, the uprights are
made from a second open profile which has two sealing edges
directed towards the outside of the cabinet.
The gusset plates disposed at the eight apexes are designed to
receive either fixing means for accessories, such as hoisting
rings, means for adjusting the level of the cabinet, or means for
fixing on a base.
The pillars of the cabinet according to the invention, in the form
of uprights and/or posts, are therefore all individually removable
without disassembling the base and/or roof.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Other features and advantages will become more clearly apparent
from the following detailed description, with reference to the
figures, in which:
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a first embodiment of the
corner junction according to the invention before assembly of the
different elements;
FIG. 2A is a perspective view of the plane frame according to FIG.
1 after assembly of the two profile sections, according to the
first embodiment of the corner junction;
FIG. 2B is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the corner
junction according to FIG. 1 after final assembly of the foot;
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a cabinet according to a
first embodiment;
FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a cabinet according to a
second embodiment;
FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a cabinet according to a
third embodiment;
FIG. 6 is a horizontal cross-section of a cabinet according to the
first embodiment; and
FIG. 7 is a horizontal cross-section of a cabinet according to the
second embodiment.
FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of a second embodiment of
the corner junction according to the invention before assembly of
the different elements;
FIGS. 9 and 10 are respectively side and bottom views of the foot
of the second embodiment of the corner junction according to FIG.
8; and
FIGS. 11 and 12 are respectively cross-sectional and perspective
views of the gusset plate of the second embodiment of the corner
junction according to FIG. 8.
CORNER JUNCTION
With reference to FIGS. 1, 2A and 2B, the corner junction according
to a first embodiment of the invention is designed to securedly
unite on the one hand two profile sections 10A and 10B, thus
forming a plane frame, and on the other hand a foot 20 presenting a
longitudinal axis L appreciably perpendicular to the frame 10 and
provided with two first surfaces 1A and 1B parallel to the
longitudinal axis L. The two profile sections 10A and 10B form
between them a first salient angle a, and the surfaces 1A and 1B
supported by the foot 20 form between them a second angle b.
The profile sections 10A and 10B are joined to one another by a
gusset plate 11 which, preferably, is made from a cut and folded
sheet metal plate. According to a possible embodiment, the gusset
plate 11 comprises a plate 13 parallel to the plane frame and two
wings 11A and 11B perpendicular to the plate 13, which are for
example welded or screwed onto the profile sections 10A and
10B.
According to the invention, the gusset plate 11 comprises in
addition two second surfaces 2A and 2B, perpendicular to the plane
frame, and therefore parallel to the longitudinal axis L,
respectively disposed on each side of the plane bisecting the angle
a. These two second surfaces 2A and 2B form between them an angle c
appreciably complementary to 360.degree. to the angle b.
Preferably, these two surfaces 2A and 2B do not meet at a common
edge, but along an imaginary line, and are joined to one another by
the surfaces 3A, 3 and 3B of the gusset plate 11 which are also
parallel to the longitudinal axis L.
A securing means, for example a screw or bolt (not represented)
fixed from the inside of the trihedron passes through a hole 17
made in the surface 3 of the gusset plate 11 which is perpendicular
to the plane bisecting the angle a, and engages on a thread (not
represented) tapped in the foot 20; the axis of this screw is
located in the plane bisecting the angle c, perpendicularly to the
longitudinal axis L, and therefore parallel to the plane frame.
Inserting the screw or bolt from the outside of the trihedron can
also be envisaged.
Preferably, the angle c is equal to or slightly smaller than the
angle complementary to 360.degree. of the angle b, so that when the
screw is tightened, a clamping effect of the first surfaces 1A and
1B between the two second surfaces 2A and 2B is obtained. This
clamping force is strengthened by the fact that the surfaces 2A and
2B meet along an imaginary line set back from the surface 3, the
surfaces 3A, 3 and 3B acting as a spring fitted between the
surfaces 2A and 2B. As a nonrestrictive example, the angle
a=90.degree., angle b=270.degree. and angle c between 88.degree.
and 90.degree..
A corner junction of this kind has a great strength on the one hand
due to the presence of the gusset plate 11 which joins the two
profile sections 10A and 10B rigidly, and on the other hand due to
the fact that the stresses parallel to the longitudinal direction L
are absorbed by the frictional forces of the surfaces 1A and 1B on
the surfaces 2A and 2B following tightening of the screw. It
moreover enables the manufacturing tolerances with respect to
profile turning of the profile sections to be relaxed.
Furthermore, the foot 20 has the advantage of being removable by
tightening/untightening a single screw, then simple translation of
the foot 20 in a direction parallel to the plane frame and
contained in the plane bisecting the angle c.
According to a particular embodiment, the profile sections 10A and
10B are hollow and the surfaces 2A and 2B fit respectively, at
least partially, into the hollow of each of the two profile
sections 10A and 10B, as can be seen in FIG. 2A. These two surfaces
2A and 2B can moreover be directly welded onto the inside of the
profile sections 10A and 10B.
According to the same particular embodiment, the hollow profile
sections 10A and 10B present a rectangular cross-section and
therefore each have fourth surfaces 4A, 4'A, 4B and 4'B parallel to
the plane frame, which act respectively as complementary supports
for fifth surfaces 5A, 5'A 5B and 5'B belonging to the foot 20 and
perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L. The foot 20 can then be
likened to a tripod. It can be noted that sixth surfaces 6A and 6B
which bound the first surfaces 1A and 1B laterally, parallel to the
longitudinal direction L, are parallel to one another, thus
enabling the first surfaces 1A and 1B to be fitted simultaneously,
by simple translation according to a direction parallel to the
plane frame and contained in the plane bisecting the angle c, into
the profile sections 10A and 10B, against the second surfaces 2A
and 2B. These sixth surfaces 6A and 6B are parallel to the plane
bisecting the angle b.
Such embodiment gives an excellent strength as the stresses
parallel to the longitudinal direction L are simultaneously
absorbed on the one hand, by the frictions between the first
surfaces 1A and 1B, and, the second surfaces 2A and 2B, and on the
other hand by the bearing faces formed by the fourth surfaces 4A,
4'A, 4B and 4'B on the fifth surfaces 5A, 5'A, 5B and 5'B.
The foot 20 has a cross-section of general triangular shape and
presents a part 21 of triangular cross-section on which, as an
example, a hollow triangular upright 30 or an open upright 40 fits,
the finality of which will be described in greater detail with
reference to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 relating to different embodiments of
the cabinet.
FIGS. 8 to 12 correspond to a second embodiment of the corner
junction according to the invention, in which the sections 10A and
10B have, for the sake of convenience, the same references as those
described with respect to the first embodiment. The sections 10A
and 10B are hollow and their cross-section is trapezoid, the two
faces facing the inside of the corner junction being provided with
perforations 15A and 15B.
Unlike the first embodiment, the gusset plate 11 can be formed by
two distinct parts, i.e. an appreciably triangular plate 112 and a
corner piece 113.
The plate 112 has a groove 112A forming a bracket in the plane of
the plate in which the wings 100A and 100B associated respectively
to the sections 10A and 10B fit. The plate 112 is then fixed to the
sections 10A and 10B by welding according to the axis of the
sections. It can be noted that this plate 112 is not indispensable
within the scope of the invention, the gusset plate 111 being quite
able to be formed simply by the corner piece 113.
This corner piece 113 is achieved by cutting and folding of a sheet
metal plate and presents two wings 113A and 113B which form between
them a concave angle c, preferably appreciably equal to 90.degree.;
the internal faces of the wings 113A and 113B bear the second
surfaces 2A and 2B, perpendicular to the plane frame formed by the
profile sections 10A and 10B.
The outline of the wings 113A and 113B preferably corresponds to
the shape of the cross-section of the profile sections 10A and 10B,
the corner piece 113 thus being able to be welded over practically
the whole length of its perimeter respectively to the two profile
sections 10A and 10B, so as to form the plane frame designed to
receive a foot 120; welding moreover ensures the tightness of the
corner junction once the foot 120 has been fitted.
The foot 120 presents a longitudinal axis perpendicular to the
plane frame formed by the sections 10A and 10B, and comprises a
part 121 on which for example a hollow upright 50 provided with two
rows of holes 55 fits. The foot 120 is provided with two first
surfaces 1A and 1B parallel to its longitudinal axis, and forming
between them an angle b appreciably complementary to 360.degree. to
the angle c.
A clamping means (not represented), for example a nut and bolt,
passes through an opening 117 of the corner piece 113 and a hole
127 of the foot 120 to press the two first surfaces 1A and 1B
associated to the foot 120 against the two second surfaces 2A and
2B associated to the corner piece 113.
The corner piece comprises in addition two openings 115A and 115B,
for example of rectangular shape, made respectively in the two
wings 113A and 113B and designed to cooperate with two spigots 125A
and 125B associated to the foot 120.
The openings 115A and 115B respectively present surfaces 114A,
114'A and 114B, 114'B, called fourth surfaces by analogy with the
first embodiment, which cooperate with surfaces 5A, 5'A and 5B, 5'B
supported by the spigots 125A and 125B, the latter being called
fifth surfaces by analogy with the first embodiment.
It can be noted that the surfaces 126A and 126B called sixth
surfaces, which bound the spigots 125A and 125B laterally, parallel
to the longitudinal direction of the feet 120, are parallel to one
another and to the plane bisecting the angle b, thus enabling the
spigots 125A and 125B to be inserted simultaneously in the openings
115A and 115B by simple translation in a direction parallel to the
plane frame.
In other words, the spigots 125A and 125B constitute the beginnings
of two foots of a tripod which fit into the openings 115A and 115B
and which, unlike the traditional tripod, enables the assembly
formed by the foot 120 and upright 50 to be assembled and
disassembled by simple translation parallel to the plane frame
formed by the sections 10A and 10B.
Comparison of the two embodiments of the corner junction described
above shows that the fifth surfaces 5A, 5'A and 5B, 5'B are
supported by the foot 20 or 120; and the fourth surfaces,
referenced 4A, 4'A, 4B and 4'B according to the first embodiment or
114A, 114'A, 114B and 114'B according to the second embodiment,
belong respectively to the profile sections 10A, 10B or to the
corner piece 113 of the gusset plate 111, welded to the profile
sections 10A, 10B.
It can easily be understood that a combination of the two
embodiments of the corner junction is also possible, i.e. two sets
of fourth surfaces, one of which would belong to the profile
sections 10A, 10B and the other of which would belong to the corner
piece 113, these two sets of fourth surfaces bearing on two sets of
fifth surfaces belonging to the foot.
The existence of these fourth and fifth bearing surfaces enables
the shearing forces at the level of the clamping means to be
minimized, forces which according to the studies carried out by the
applicant, are particularly great when handling and transporting by
road assembled cabinets comprising disassemblable corner
junctions.
Cabinet
According to a feature common to the three embodiments of the
cabinet which will be described hereafter with reference to FIGS. 3
to 7, the cabinet comprises a base S and a roof T, both comprising
a rectangular frame formed by four profile sections 10 (FIGS. 6 and
7) joined together two by two by means of a gusset plate 11 or 111
and a foot 20 or 120 as described above. The cabinet therefore
comprises eight identical corner junctions 20 or 120. Pillars
formed by uprights 30, 40 or 50 and/or posts 70 join the frame of
the roof T to that of the base S.
For the sake of clarity, FIGS. 3 to 7 only bear the references 11
and 20, it being understood that they also cover the references 111
and 120.
The covering dressing of the cabinet is formed by panels: i.e. one
panel 60 for the roof T, one panel 61 for the base S, three panels
63, 64, 65 respectively for the left, rear and right vertical faces
of the cabinet, and one panel in the form of a door 62 located at
the front of the cabinet.
It can be noted that the profile sections 10 of the roof T and/or
base S can be obtained by sectioning a corresponding profile
section, or, according to a known technique, be directly integrated
in the panels 60 and/or 61 by successive folding along the
periphery of the plate forming the panel; the document
DE-A-2,338,570 could for example be referred to for further details
as far as the technique of integrating the profile sections in a
dressing panel is concerned.
The profile sections 10 can also be provided with a protruding wing
16 (visible in FIGS. 1, 2A, 2B or 8), directed towards the outside
of the cabinet. This wing 16 forms an angle d slightly less than
90.degree. so as to form a gutter whose end acts as a bearing
surface able to cooperate, if necessary, with a seal 80 fitted
beforehand on the inside of the vertical panels 63 to 65 and of the
door 62.
Each foot 20 or 120, located at each of the eight apexes of the
cabinet, can be provided with a gutter 26 (visible in FIGS. 1 and
2B) situated in the continuation of the gutter formed by the wing
16, so as to ensure a continuity, over the whole periphery of the
roof and that of the base, of the gutter and of the bearing surface
designed to cooperate, if necessary, with the seal.
Each foot 20 or 120 can in addition comprise a spout 29 bounded by
the faces 29A and 29B and designed to remove water collected by the
gutter formed by the wings 16 (FIG. 2B).
It can be noted with reference to FIG. 2B that the wings 16, edges
28A and 28B of the part 21 of the foot 20, and edges 33 and 34 of
the upright 30 form continuous bearing frames designed to cooperate
with a seal 80.
Each foot 20 or 120 can in addition be provided with a fixing
device 27, for example by dovetailing (visible in FIGS. 1 and 2B),
directed towards the outside of the cabinet and designed to receive
an accessory such as a hinge-pin (not represented) for a hinge (not
represented) of a door 62. It can easily be understood that
according to this feature the door can be fitted on any vertical
face of the cabinet and that a cabinet can comprise one or more
doors.
All the parts forming the cabinet are in general made of metal,
except where otherwise indicated in the following text.
According to a first embodiment illustrated by FIGS. 3 and 6, the
four corner junctions associated to the four apexes of the roof T
are respectively joined to the four apexes of the base S by four
uprights 30 identical to the upright 30 of FIG. 1.
The upright 30 is hollow and closed and presents a cross-section
having the shape of an isosceles-rectangular triangle inside which
the part 21 of the foot 20 (visible in FIG. 1) having a
complementary cross-section to that of the hollow of the upright 30
fits.
For each of the four uprights 30, the right angle of the triangle
bounded by the faces 31 and 32 is directed towards the inside of
the cabinet, whereas the two edges 33 and 34 situated at the base
are directed towards the outside of the cabinet and form bearing
surfaces for possible seals 80 fitted beforehand on the inside of
the vertical panels 63 to 65 and door 62. The two faces 31 and 32
are provided with perforations 35 regularly spaced apart according
to the longitudinal axis L and which pair up with the perforations
15A and 15B of the profile sections associated to the frames of the
roof T and base S. The edge formed by the faces 31 and 32 is also
provided with regularly spaced apart perforations 37, able to be
used for inserting nuts for fixing screws passing through the
perforations 35. The side 36 corresponding to the hypotenuse of the
rectangular triangle is solid, but may be provided with knock-out
parts 38, which once knocked out form a perforation able to receive
fixing means for accessories.
According to this first embodiment, it can be easily understood
that the uprights 30 perform at the same time a mechanical support
function of the roof T and a tightness function in association with
the covering panels. Each upright 30 is thus individually removable
without removing the roof T, by simply untightening the screws
associated to the two corresponding corner junctions, then
translation in a horizontal direction contained in the plane
bisecting the angle c. This results in the person in charge of
fitting the electrical switchgear equipment inside the cabinet
being able to remove one or two uprights 30 for easy access to the
inside of the cabinet.
According to a second embodiment illustrated by FIGS. 4 and 7, the
four corner junctions associated to the four apexes of the roof T
are respectively joined to the four apexes of the base S by four
uprights 40 identical to the upright 40 of FIG. 1.
The upright 40 is open and comprises three sides 41, 42 and 46
designed to receive the part 21 of the foot 20 (visible in FIG.
1).
Each of the four uprights 40 presents two end edges 44 and 45
facing the outside of the cabinet and forming bearing surfaces for
possible seals 80 fitted beforehand on the inside of the vertical
panels 63 to 65 and of the door 62. The side 46 joining the two
edges 44 and 45 is solid.
The uprights 40 essentially perform a tightness function, as they
obviously have a lower mechanical strength than the uprights 30
described with reference to the first embodiment. To strengthen the
structure of the cabinet, vertical posts 70 are placed between the
profile sections associated to the roof T and those associated to
the base S. Each post 70 can be fixed, by means of screws (not
represented) passing through the perforations 15, at any
intermediate point X, Y of one of the four profile sections 10
associated to the base S to the corresponding intermediate point of
the corresponding profile section associated to the roof T. It can
be noted that the vertical posts 70 are also removable by simple
horizontal translation and also have regularly spaced perforations
(not represented), designed for fixing a frame supporting the
electrical switchgear.
As the uprights 40 therefore only perform a tightness function, it
is possible to envisage manufacturing them in plastic material.
This second embodiment of the cabinet according to the invention
provides, in addition to the advantages already described with
reference to the first embodiment, a very great degree of
flexibility as far as the number of posts 70 and the position of
each of the posts 70 is concerned, depending on the weight and size
of the electrical switchgear and their spatial distribution in the
internal volume of the cabinet.
According to a third embodiment of the cabinet illustrated by FIG.
5, the pillars of the cabinet are formed solely by posts 70. In a
similar manner to the second embodiment of the cabinet, each post
70 can be fixed, by means of screws passing through the
perforations 15, at any intermediate point X, Y of one of the four
profile sections 10 associated to the base S to the corresponding
intermediate point of the corresponding profile section associated
to the roof T. The vertical posts 70 are also removable by simple
horizontal translation and also have regularly spaced perforations
(not represented), designed for fixing a frame supporting the
electrical switchgear.
The corresponding cabinet therefore does not present the feature of
tightness with respect to the outside which the first and second
embodiments of the cabinet present. It does however enable the four
vertical edges of the parallelepiped formed by the cabinet to be
completely cleared, and therefore gives the person in charge of
fitting the switchgear maximum access space; in addition, it
enables requirements to be met which do not in an initial stage
demand a high protection index, while leaving the possibility of
subsequently fitting uprights 30, 40 or 50 which enable a higher
protection index to be achieved.
It can be noted from the three embodiments of the cabinet described
above that any combination of uprights 30, 40 or 50, and/or posts
70 is possible according to the requirements expressed, provided
that this combination meets the requirements of mechanical support,
and that all the pillars resulting from this combination are
removable by simple horizontal translation.
The cabinet according to the invention provides a very great degree
of flexibility as far as the arrangement of the electrical
switchgear in the cabinet is concerned, as well as great scope for
possible future modifications and/or adaptations of an already
installed cabinet.
It can easily be understood that in any of the embodiments
comprising notably two pillars arranged in a plane parallel to the
door 62 of the cabinet, these two pillars can in fact amount to a
frame, either monobloc or not, for example in the form of a
vertical rectangular plate which is fixed on the one hand onto two
opposite profile sections of the roof and on the other hand onto
two opposite profile sections of the base. In this case, the height
of this rectangular plate will be at most equal to the distance
separating the opposite internal faces of the profile sections of
the roof T and base S so that the plate is removable by simple
translation in a horizontal direction. Its width can on the other
hand extend over the whole external width of the frames of the roof
T and base S, so as on the one hand to provide a maximum amount of
space available for the electrical switchgear, and on the other
hand to enable continuity with a possible other plate of the same
type belonging to an adjacent cabinet.
* * * * *